The Anti-Residue Shampoo was and is one of my (and countless others’) favorite shampoos. It’s cleansing, but not striping. With its gentle lather, subtle scent, affordable price and formulation clear of color additives, what is not to like? The main thing not to like is that it is gone (outside of pricey options on Amazon that is)! But why was The Anti-Residue Shampoo discontinued? And is there a good replacement? Read below for answers – of which include DMDM hydantoin.
Table of Contents
What the Heck is DMDM Hydantoin
DMDM hydantoin is a common preservative found in cosmetic products used to help extend shelf life. Per webmd, “The chemical stops or slows down the growth of potentially harmful fungi, yeast, and bacteria.” The common ingredient is found in trace amounts in foods like apples and spinach.
That all sounds fine, so where is the problem and how does it relate to your favorite shampoo being discontinued? The answer is that the preservative is formaldehyde-releasing – meaning trace amounts of formaldehyde release over time. Formaldehyde in certain concentrations can cause contact dermatitis and irritation. In high amounts it is also listed as a probable carcinogen.
Neutrogena’s Anti Residue Shampoo contains DMDM hydantoin.
***Neutrogena T Gel Shampoo – Discontinued***
DMDM Hydantoin, Lawsuits & Neutrogena
While no case has been filed against Neutrogena regarding DMDM hydantoin, in December 2020 a lawsuit was filed by two women (Lipetz et al v. Unilever United States, Inc. et al). In it they (and others that joined the class action lawsuit) claimed that DMDM hydantoin could cause hair loss and Unilever (corporation that owns TRESemmé) didn’t disclose this on relevant TRESemmé product(s). Later in 2021, Johnson & Johnson (the parent company of Neutrogena) was sued over DMDM hydantoin in other brand lines (namely OGX Beauty) in a similar lawsuit. Please note that there are no studies linking DMDM hydantoin to hair loss or thinning in the concentrations used in cosmetics. It is a possibility, but nothing has been proven to say isn’t safe.
“The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), an independent expert scientific panel established by the Personal Care Products Council, also has evaluated the scientific data and concluded that DMDM hydantoin is safe as a cosmetic ingredient at current levels of use – 0.074 percent, or less.”
Chemical Safety Facts
As for these lawsuits, these women don’t claim to have undergone dermatological patch testing as well, which would help determine if they were allergic DMDM hydantoin. In fact, they don’t claim to have suffered hair loss as a result of the DMDM hydantoin specifically either. Just that they believe DMDM hydantoin can cause hair loss and that if they knew that, they wouldn’t have bought the product and/or believe the product would be worth less.
Did The Lawsuits Have Merit?
It still is possible these women had their hair fall out due to TRESemmé’s product(s). However, it is difficult to say the culprit was specifically DMDM hydantoin. Correlation does not equal causation. Stress and illness for example are two causes of delayed hair loss – meaning the hair loss occurs sometime after the causal event. Thus, you may attribute hair loss to new product use when it could be coincidental. That is why rigorous trials are important for determining causal effects.
However, as an outsider, I don’t think these women were wrong for filing these lawsuits. If I had hair loss/thinning and believed it was a result of a product, I would want to sue too! Corporations aren’t exactly known for keeping consumers’ best interests at heart. Thus, it isn’t a stretch that a corporation could be misleading in their claims to make money.
Overall, the TRESemmé lawsuit was dismissed in March 2022, but allowed for the possibility of the plaintiff’s to file an amended consolidated complaint. The separate lawsuit against J&J (Whipple v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.) in regards to DMDM hydantoin and hair loss concerns that was filed in June 2021 and there were indications of a confidential settlement given the dismissal in 2022.
Controversy & Fall Out: Why Neutrogena’s The Anti-Residue Shampoo was Discontinued?
Not long after the cases were first filed, there was an explosion of discourse online listing products that contain DMDM hydantoin to avoid and ones without that are presumably safe. In the court of public opinion, the claim of hair loss caused by DMDM hydantoin was taken as fact.
Neutrogena never released a statement as to why they discontinued the very popular product, but context clues point to these lawsuits as a likely culprit. It doesn’t matter if the product is safe, all that matters is perception for brands. Thus, discontinuing the product is an easy way to avoid controversy. In fact, TRESemmé stopped selling products with DMDM hydantoin during the course of the Unilever lawsuit.
Some other facts that point to this as being the reason are the posts calling out The Anti-Residue Shampoo specifically. The Anti-Residue Shampoo is also the first product that comes up in this anti-DMDM hydantoin tiktok with over 2.5m views and counting. This tiktok was published before the J&J OGX lawsuit, and specifically references the Unilever TRESemmé lawsuit
Neutrogena’s Current Shampoos & DMDM Hydantoin
Another clue on DMDM hydantoin being the reason the product is discontinued, is that currently, none of the shampoos Neutrogena has in stock on their website have DMDM hydantoin anymore. There were 7 shampoos that show up as of 8/21/2022 as in stock or out of stock when this article was originally written. Significantly, none of the shampoos in stock have DMDM hydantoin. As of Sept 2023, all 5 shampoos containing DMDM hydantoin have been discontinued.
| Product Name | DMDM Hydantoin as Ingredient | In Stock, Out of Stock or Discontinued |
| T/Sal® Therapeutic Shampoo-Scalp Build-Up Control | No | In Stock |
| Neutrogena® Healthy Scalp Soothing with Tea Tree Oil Shampoo | No | In Stock |
| Neutrogena® Healthy Scalp Gentle & Soft with Micellar Water Shampoo | No | Discontinued Post 8/2022 |
| T/Gel® Therapeutic Shampoo-Original Formula | Yes | Discontinued Post 8/2022 |
| T/Gel® Therapeutic Shampoo-Extra Strength | Yes | Discontinued Post 8/2022 |
| Neutrogena® Healthy Scalp Hydro Boost with Hyaluronic Acid Shampoo | No | In Stock |
| Neutrogena® Healthy Scalp Clarify & Shine Shampoo with Pink Grapefruit | No | In Stock |
| T/Gel® Therapeutic Shampoo-Stubborn Itch | Yes | Discontinued |
| T/Gel Daily Control® 2-in-1 Dandruff Shampoo Plus Conditioner | Yes | Discontinued |
| Triple Moisture Cream Lather Shampoo | No | Discontinued |
| The Anti-Residue Shampoo® | Yes | Discontinued |
Other Reasons Why The Anti-Residue Shampoo was Discontinued?
Of course, given that neither Neutrogena nor any insiders have spoken on the subject, we can’t say with 100% certainty why the shampoo was discontinued. While the parent company J&J was sued over DMDM hydantoin in other brands, Neutrogena was never implicated in any DMDM hydantoin lawsuit. None of the products they currently sell with DMDM hydantoin are shampoos or conditioners, which appear to have received the majority of the blowback. Possibly because the DMDM hydantoin products in stock don’t go on the scalp they weren’t targeted.
Another reason the shampoo was discontinued could be due to the industry shying away from products with SLS derivatives (Anti-Residue Shampoo contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate).
Neutrogena’s official response (to me anyway) was that they update their product listings for a variety of reasons.
Replacements for Neutrogena’s The Anti-Residue Shampoo
In our post-Anti-Residue Shampoo journey, there comes a point where we must move on. Afterall, we still have to wash our locs! So in my research, I found a few alternatives that people like and some that I found to try myself. Ultimately, I looked for similar products at a decent price point, with good clarifying capabilities and yet were gentle enough for frequent use.
This is what I found.
Neutrogena® Healthy Scalp Clarify & Shine Shampoo with Pink Grapefruit
The first thing I did when looking for alternatives was to search Neutrogena’s listings. This one was the closest in its claim for clarifying. Moreover, there are a number of positive reviews online on it as a replacement and the price point is similar. However, there are 3 differences between the two shampoos that I found as a negative for this contender:
- Scent: This shampoo has a pink grapefruit scent. While, The Anti-Residue never claimed to be unscented, it didn’t attempt to emulate anything and was otherwise, more on the neutral side.
- Color: The Pink Grapefruit Shampoo is, well, pink. This means unnecessary ingredients were added to color the product that don’t add to the cleaning power. This is not uncommon for shampoos, but in terms of it being a direct comparison, it stands out.
- Main Cleaning Agent: The Pink Grapefruit does not have any SLS derivatives, while Anti-Residue does (SLES). Some may find that a pro for Pink Grapefruit, but for me, I liked the additional cleansing power of the Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in the Anti-Residue and am wary that the Pink Grapefruit Shampoo may not cleanse as well without it.
Suave Essentials Daily Clarifying Shampoo
The price point of this shampoo is excellent – even cheaper than The Anti-Residue Shampoo. However, from the reviews, it does look like there was an unwelcome formula change in the past few years.
As for comparisons with The Anti-Residue Shampoo, this is what I noted:
- Scent: There are reviews that the product is highly scented. For that alone, I will (personally) be passing on this one given I am sensitive to scent.
- Color: This Suave shampoo has a light blue color with a few color additives in the ingredients to get there.
- Main Cleaning Agent: The main cleaning agent is Sodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate. If you are like me, you’d never heard of it before. It is actually quite similar to Sodium Laureth Sulfate (The Anti-Residue Shampoo’s main cleansing agent), except the former is based on synthetic alcohol, while Neutrogena’s SLES is based on a natural lauryl alcohol.
Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two
Personally, this will be my first choice to use after I run out of Anti-Residue Shampoo. I currently use Shampoo Three now on the bulk of my hair (but not my scalp given the high pH of 9). The clarifying power of the Paul Mitchell Three is strong, but it doesn’t dry my hair out. I’m still not willing to use it on my scalp as my go-to wash though. Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two has a more balanced pH level of 5.5, which makes it ideal for more frequent use on your hair/scalp. Thus, I am very excited to try this shampoo out.
- Scent: Paul Mitchel 2 is lemon scented. I find added scent to be a negative for any product, but it is common.
- Color: Similarly to Neutrogena’s Anti-Residue, this shampoo is clear.
- Cleaning Agent: Has the same main cleaning agent as Anti-Residue (Sodium Laureth Sulfate).
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Hope that answers all your questions about Neutrogena The Anti-Residue Shampoo being discontinued. It’s always difficult when you think you find a holy grail product, and then it’s gone. Hopefully, Neutrogena will bring back the product (reformulated or not), but if not, give one of the alternatives listed above a try. If you think you know why the shampoo was discontinued or know of any good alternatives, let us know in the comments.
**As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Updated 9/21/2023
Thank you for this ! For months I have been wondering why I can’t find it. My scalp is mess without it 🙁 . It was my go to once a week and I can’t find anything commercial wise to compare. I’m going to get the Paul Mitchell 2 though and give that a try. I’ve stayed away from the pink grapefruit for the same reasons you have . It seems frequently using that would add to the problem of build up. Thank you!
Yes, I’m sad Neutrogena stopped selling it! Same for me that the shampoo is great for my scalp.
I hope you find the Paul Mitchell 2 to be a good replacement!
Thanks for this information. I have been using Neutrogena anti residue shampoo daily for at least 30 years. Still have all my hair as a 68 year old male. Hate that two women’s law suit ruined it for the millions of people who had great results with this product.I agree law suits are sometimes good but in this case the numbers don’t support their case.
Well, I guess I learned late that Neutragena’s Anti Residue Shampoo was discontinued! My husband usually keeps the cupboard well stocked, so I don’t even know what we have till we run out. I am so upset. I simply love that shampoo!!!
I have tried other Neutragena shampoos. Not sure what it is called, but really dislike the blue one. Recently I was a Lighthouse Keeper for a week. We were transported out a 5.5 mile spit with all our belongings and food for a week. Well, I had forgotten to pack my shampoo. So I was unwilling to admit it to my 2 friends, therefore I used the SOFTSOAP hand soap that was on the vanity. My hair and scalp reacted much the same as my Neutragena shampoo except my scalp quit itching.
So , guess I need to research SOFTSOAP ingredients before I check out shampoos.
I’m really late discovering that this has been discontinued, although I’ve been looking for it and haven’t noticed it on shelves in a while. At the moment I do have Paul Mitchell Shampoos 2 & 3, and Prell, all of which I’m happy with.
But the pattern I’ve noticed with companies decided to go sulfate free or discontinue a product all together, is like this:
Certain ingredients get maligned (sulfates, silicones). Instead of educating the consumer and explaining about overall formulations and concentrations, companies cave and change the overall formula. Products become mediocre and don’t work as well, or the cleansing agent they change to are even worse and more drying (I noticed that with the changes in Suave Daily Clarifying and a few others). At first the consumers insist that it’s better, “my hair looks at feels like total cr*p, and I might need to cut my hair off, but it’s sulfate free, so it’s better”.
..but the new product is undeniably so bad sales drop and it gets discontinued, or it gets discontinued from the get go. This happened with many perfectly good sulfate shampoos over the years like the ones from Nature’s Gate, Avalon Organics, Nirvana, Hobe Labs..
Anyways it’s a real shame Neutrogena was one of the latest ones to bite the dust. I had been buying it periodically since the late 80s. It was a gem.
Me too
Well, crap! I loved that shampoo used it once a week and loved the scent. Will try the grapefruit. Than you for a well researched article.
Thank you for your comment <3 let us know how you find the grapefruit one!
Totally bummed.. user on and off for 30+ years. What bs this is.. thanks for the great write up.
I have been using Neutrogena anti residue shampoo for over 40 years. It’s a great product. I am 80 and have all my hair. What a shame.
I actually thought about the $62. price on Amazon for a second before I came to my senses. I just ran out of anti residue shampoo but have some of the grapefruit product and wonder how my nose and my hair will react to this scent. It seems if you only use anti residue once a week, per the instructions on the bottle, could it really be all that dangerous? And…is it possible that the two women with hair loss may have been predisposed to thinning hair? Come on Neutrogena. We want our shampoo back!!
What a shame that a couple of people who know nothing prevent the rest of us from getting a great product, Imagine if people minded their own business.
Great product, I have thin hair and my hair is also falling out I believe it’s from the build up of other shampoos but I use this product to clean my scalp once a week and it helps to unclog my hair follicles that my hair looks fuller and healthier. Wish the company would bring it back.